MBA Programs: Who Gets Accepted and Who Gets Rejected

Demystify MBA admissions. Learn why candidates get accepted or rejected, and how to stand out beyond scores. Discover what business schools truly seek in applicants.

MBA Programs: Who Gets Admitted and Who Gets Rejected

A report by Melissa Rapp, Associate Dean at Goizueta Business School

I'm not sure if I'm ready.

I'm not sure if it's the right thing for me.

My GMAT/GRE score, my GPA, or my work experience are not good enough.

These and many other reasons are given by prospective students when asked why they are not pursuing an MBA. Many start researching MBA programs, get overwhelmed by the choices, or quickly feel that they are not good enough for the schools they would like to attend.

Those who advocate for an MBA quickly highlight the most successful graduates and the most influential students. A quick Google search can yield a wealth of profiles of the best and brightest MBA students, leaving many candidates wondering if they should even consider applying. My answer is: You should definitely apply for an MBA program – even if your test scores are not particularly good, you come from a non-traditional background, or you don't yet know what you want to do with your career.

And why? Because there are no perfect MBA candidates. For every strength a candidate has, there is also a weakness. Great is someone who knows where they are not strong and addresses these weaknesses directly. Good candidates use every opportunity to present themselves during the application process. They use essay questions to highlight their strengths and the interview to emphasize what they bring to the community and what impact they hope to have during the MBA program and beyond. Good candidates are enthusiastic about the schools they apply to, and they try to build relationships to understand the culture and ensure a good fit.